Improving on the Tonti side stand pivot bolt (new title)

[moto]

[Previously titled, "Torque your side stands well"]

Well, my side stand pivot bolt backed out, again. Maybe because I didn't torque it properly, or maybe the extreme lean angle I had accepted wound up tearing out the aftermarket pivot bolt. I don't remember paying much attention to torquing it.

There is no torque value in the Workshop Manual for the part. It is a 10mm steel bolt into a steel part, so 25 lb ft could be right, except that there aren't many threads. It's all academic for me now.

The stand departed the bike violently, dropping it in a fast food parking lot. After recruiting a young stalwart to help right it, I found the parts arranged underneath where the bike had been lying, all magically arrayed in parallel, about 8 inches apart, front to back: the stand, the two springs, the pivot bolt. As usual, the threads on the pivot bolt and the side stand were stripped.

Here are photos of two of the original-type pivot bolt and a bigger bolt (with nut) I worked up as a replacement. The one in the middle is probably an OEM bolt, while the one on the left is aftermarket with a shorter bearing shaft.


   


As for my replacement, I drilled the stripped 10mm side stand hole to 10.9mm and threaded it 12x1.75. Then, unable to find a pre-made substitute of the right dimensions from McMaster, I bought an M12 x 60mm bolt from the hardware store, rated 8.8 hardness. I used a 12x1.75 die to reduce its unthreaded length to 16mm, assembled the bolt and side stand with a half-height jam nut and then cut off the excess bolt length to fit:





I was happy to find the new arrangement works well. The inner spring rubs on the jam nut, slightly interfering with the retraction action up near the frame, but not fouling per se. The stand still exhibits its wonderful ability to stay extended in the air (due to the dual spring arrangement), a great help on uneven or unstable surfaces:





(By the way, my side stand is a at the mid-mount position, but the modification probably would work for the original set up too, the clearance of the half-height jam nut being a possible concern.)

I wonder why the original type was chosen instead of my seemingly stronger alternative. Any one able to comment knowledgeably?

Moto

[Huzo]

Mine would never stay tight.
So I tensioned it and fitted a split pin.

[moto]

Mine would never stay tight.
So I tensioned it and fitted a split pin.

That's a better idea I think.

[guzziart]

Yeah, mine got so lose on my '87 LMIV that it would barely stay up on the side stand so I decided to add a shim to the bottom of the stand to decrease lean angle, that's when I discovered the pivot was lose....it had completely backed out of the stand threads.  I'm glad I discovered it before the stand mount tab tore out of the frame from extreme stress caused by too great of a lean angle. 

[czakky82]

Guzzi’s and sidestands… I like the big floorboard stand, not much else.

Moto, Did your paint job fair okay?

[moto]

…

Moto, Did your paint job fair okay?

Yes, it escaped the fall unharmed, thanks to the engine guard and the saddle bag. The black paint on the bag took some scratches. Have you painted your T yet?

[mechanicsavant]

On my V7’s the sidestand was also a bit “floppy” . So made a few shims from aluminum flashing . That snugged it up quite a bit , loc-title on threaded portion too. An occasional squirt of penetrating oil keeps it smooth , when it gets a bit stiff dirt has once again been attracted to the pivot , more squirts. Did I mention I purchase both Fluid Film & WD-40 by the gallon !

[czakky82]

Yes, it escaped the fall unharmed, thanks to the engine guard and the saddle bag. The black paint on the bag took some scratches. Have you painted your T yet?

I did, my Sport anyway.

[moto]

Beautiful! I like everything about it.

[moto]

I thought I noticed my bike was a little more upright with the new pivot pin than it was when I’d just installed the aftermarket one. I had taken a picture then, so I made a before-and-after comparison:

   .  .


The aftermarket pin may have had more play because its bearing shaft was too short.

EDIT: The short-shafted pin and side stand were a sold as a combination by one of our most valued vendors. Not all parts are alike. Caveat emptor!